<p>I have completed my first year of college at a very good liberal arts college. However, I really disliked my first year and planned to transfer. I had applied to numerous transfer schools but didn't have the greatest grades I wanted because of an illness I dealt with that academic year. I didn't get into any of my transfer schools and decided to apply to one last one way after their suggested deadline for transfers. I made the BIGGEST mistake and sent a forged transcript (with incorrect grades) and two letters of recommendations. Everything that I sent I believed looked flawless. However, the guilt overcame be significantly and withdrew my application a few days after I submitted it. Then literally the day after I withdrew it, I had received an email from my current college telling me that they basically found out. I was unable to reach they successfully because of the holiday but sent them a HUGE email back stating that I admitted to the forgery, that I withdrew my application before their email, and that I planned to withdraw from the college as a student because my guilt was too hard to handle with. Though I already know that expulsion is probably on their minds I am extremely worried what else I may face (legal charges, etc.). I stated that I forged my transcript only after I was denied to all the other transfer schools, which is partly true. Because my student advisor was very difficult to work with, back when I initially applied to my transfer schools I sent around two false recommendation letters because she didn't. I understand that this is a horrible thing that I've done and I am going to receive a huge penalty. I just have a few questions I need to be answered by someone that is going to be honest in my current state of dishonesty:</p>
<p>1) When they see the email response, will they feel less inclined to give me whatever their maximum penalty is because I admitted to it and explained everything upfront?
2) Will stating that I actually withdrew my application to my last transfer college before their email make a difference in my outcome?
3) Will they call my other transfer schools which I were all denied to (I specifically told them that I got denied because I either didn't finish their applications and/or just got denied--these schools I used my real transcripts, but two schools I sent false recommendations--still denied to all), and make sure I didn't forge anything else to their admissions? (I only ask this because in the future I may want to apply to them again).
4) I stated that I was going to withdraw from their college as a student and planned to not go to any transfer school for this year. Will that sway any other of their decisions?</p>
<p>Please give me your input as I have not been able to successfully contact my current school yet about the matter.</p>
<p>I have no clue as to what the college will do, but you are in some serious trouble. Among other things, by transmitting the forged documents, you probably committed wire or mail fraud - - federal crimes.</p>
<p>Get a lawyer and call and tell your parents so you can try to get in front to minimize the damage.</p>
<p>I did send it through mail. I’m only 18 and I have no criminal or any charges ever. Does anyone know what will happen if I’ve told the truth upfront?</p>
<p>You’ve already done some very foolish things with potentially serious ramifications. Don’t continue your poor choices by seeking legal information on an internet discussion forum. Again, talk to your parents and get a lawyer.</p>
Despite OP’s use of the word, nothing he did qualifies as a “mistake”. It was deliberate fraud. Yes, OP should get an attorney’s advice about how to to save as much of his butt as possible. Maybe he you can work out a deal where he withdraws and this incident is dropped from his academic record after some period of time. Maybe.</p>
<p>Best thing you can do is keep your mouth (and fingers for typing) shut. If you get contacted beyond just being expelled then get an attorney, but they will say the same thing - The less you say right now…the better.</p>
<p>Do you guys really see the school pursuing charges and wasting money? They’ll kick him out, and they’d contact schools they know he applied to ensuring he’s denied. I bet that’s it.</p>
<p>Stop calling it a “mistake”. A mistake is an inadvertent typo.</p>
<p>You, on the other hand, deliberately altered the grades on your transcript. And to leave no doubt that your intention of forgery was anything but deliberate, u also went to the trouble to forge letters of rec. It is irrelevant that the schools rejected u.</p>
<p>Would u still be referring to it as a “mistake” if you were not caught? You need to be calling a lawyer.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you should go true the trouble of getting a lawyer. You will definitely be expelled and the school will probably contact other colleges so they are aware of your forgery and fraudulent transcripts, and most likely you will not be allowed to attend another college again because of your dishonesty.</p>
<p>I understand that this is not a mistake. They were huge poorly made decisions on my part, and I accept that. Part of me discussing things with my current school is that I will have to go through an “informal hearing” with two people from the school. I have specifically asked, but I cannot even get a lawyer because it is an informal hearing. My father is actually a lawyer and he is going into it. I understand, there is a very significant chance that I will not be able to attend a college again. I also understand that I will most definitely be expelled or an equivalent to that. Unfortunately while I have comments to this post, there is no clear way of how it will go. I appreciate everyone’s input’s, but I really don’t think I’m exactly going to get the complete answer.</p>
<p>I only gave one school falsified transcripts and letters of rec & I actually withdrew my entire application a day before my current school notified me about the problem (because I couldn’t handle anymore of the guilt-didn’t have any indication that they knew-Please do not make an snarky comment about how I shouldn’t of done it in the first place and that’s why I am feeling guilt). I applied to this school late spring and not in the same time frame of my other schools).</p>
<p>All my other schools had true transcripts and is in actuality separate from my last application which I explained about above. I understand this will go on whatever transcript/record/etc. when the decision is made, BUT I am really trying to make my current college understand during my hearing to not call the other colleges I applied to just so that I have the SLIGHTEST chance to apply to them again. I was denied from all of them simply on grades/not completing the application and I have PROOF that I was denied so they don’t think I’m going to any for this fall. I understand that is a stretch, but that is what I’m having trouble with grasping</p>
<p>OP - I’m sorry you’ve created such a mess for yourself. My advise is to go to the informal hearing with your dad and show how remorseful you are. Don’t try to blame poor counseling or poor administrative help. Own your poor judgment and ask what you can do to minimize the fallout and ensure you are able to attend school somewhere in the fall. I wish you the best. I hope things work out for you.</p>
<p>This really is a messy situation… I’ll give you my $.02, and I’ll try to just be rational and thoughtful about this. </p>
<p>1.) You did commit forgery, and that will cost you academic punishment for sure and possible legal ramifications. Talk to your dad about it. As a lawyer he’ll either know how to handle it or will have some kind of source or resource to figure out how to handle it. Plus you can be more specific with him, which helps since the lawyers on here would have to know every minute detail, which isn’t prudent for an anonymous forum. </p>
<p>2.) Why are you worried about the schools you applied to? They already denied you admission, and even if your school does check with them, they’ll see that you were expelled/suspended from your current school and will most likely not admit you even if your statistics have changed. I know this is kind of harsh (sorry), but you should be worrying about the future schools you can apply to if your school expels you. (and if you can even attend another institution) </p>
<p>3.) like others have said, your best bet is to just stop contact with your school until you and your family get things sorted out. You really shouldn’t have said anything in the first place, but we can’t turn back time, so let’s just try and put your best foot forward. Be smart about what you say, and discuss with your parental/legal support what you should do. This really isn’t something you can hide from, (as you know since you emailed them and took responsibility) so just try and turn things around for your best outcome. As you progress through life you’ll find that you handle things much better when you take a good amount of time to think about it.</p>
<p>Again, this is a sticky situation, and I really wonder what they’ll do. I hope things work out the way that’s fair and best for everyone. Do update.</p>
<p>The best advice I received in my life was do not say anything. Since it’s a little too late for that, I will give my OPINION on the situation. My guess is all the punishment and consequences that will come from this will be in the world of Academia. I really do not see any legal action being taken (again this is totally my opinion and you should probably follow the advice of others and seek information from someone who knows what they are talking about). You can always do what I did after being a knuckle headed 18 year old and join the Army. Good Luck.</p>
<p>1). Stick to your dad’s advice.
2). You’re playing the BLAME GAME and want to use this forum to say that you did it because you were denied acceptance-SO WHAT???. It was FRAUD!! So you are trying to rationalize and justify what you did by saying, “Well it’s all the colleges’ faults because I was denied, so I HAD to commit fraud and I have proof that I was DENIED!”<br>
3). Grow up, quit making excuses for your lack of continued judgment and quit trying justify what you did as being the next logical step. Admit that you lied, deceived and tried to falsify information. Man up!</p>